Trachsel, Tapani Feel Differently About Sox Series

Cubs Pitchers Hate, Love Interleague Play

The White Sox travel north to Wrigley Field on Friday, but they might as well be the Phillies or the Padres as far as Steve Trachsel is concerned.

Trachsel, who faces Sox rookie Jim Parque in the opener of the three-game series, believes the bloom already is off the rose on the Cubs-Sox interleague rivalry.

While the first time was history, Trachsel doesn't sense much anticipation for the White Sox series the second time around.

"None at all," he said.

It's the been-there, done-that syndrome. Interleague play was an unqualified success in its first year, but now that the curiosity factor has been negated, the real test begins. Interleague attendance figures will be examined closely this summer because the two-year experiment must be approved again for its continuation '98.

"I'd love to see it end," Trachsel said. "I'd vote against it--absolutely. I'm basically a purist and interleague play is for the World Series. It destroys the travel for us, for the TV crews, for everybody. If we're playing the American League Central teams and the Central happens to be tough, and the American League West is easy, it creates an unfair advantage in a wild-card race (with an NL West team)."

Trachsel pointed out the Cubs already are done playing the Dodgers, a longtime rival, because of scheduling problems interleague play causes.

Trachsel, Kevin Tapani and Jeremi Gonzalez will face the Sox this weekend, as the Cubs try to make amends for losing two of three at Comiskey Park.

Tapani, who was part of the Sox rotation in '96, faces his former teammates for the first time on Saturday. But the Sox have changed drastically in the 1 1/2 years since Tapani has been gone.

"The only guys left that I played with are Frank (Thomas), Robin (Ventura) and Ray (Durham)," he said.

Tapani's exit from the Sox and hard-luck arrival on the Cubs is a suspicious tale. Former Sox manager Terry Bevington announced after Tapani's final start that Tapani's hand had been hurting during the entire second half--not exactly the thing you want your manager to say as you head into free agency.

The Sox didn't pursue Tapani and, instead, signed Jaime Navarro for $20 million. The Cubs signed Tapani to a three-year deal worth $12 million. But Tapani was forced to go on the disabled list in spring training with a ligament tear in the index finger of his right hand, an injury that may have been exacerbated by the Sox diagnosis that Tapani could continue pitching in spite of soreness.

Cubs General Manager Ed Lynch was lambasted for spending $12 million on damaged goods. Sox General Manager Ron Schueler looked like a genius in letting Tapani go and signing Navarro instead.

But since returning from the disabled list in late July, Tapani has gone 16-6 with a 3.60 earned-run average. Navarro, meanwhile, has gone 14-20 with a 5.75 ERA in 1 1/2 seasons for the Sox.

"I was hurt all along, but they just didn't tell me," Tapani said with a laugh. "I guess they knew more than I did. They knew I wasn't going to hold up the next year, and they proved to be correct. Maybe that was good judgment on their part. But things change. The smaller picture wasn't too good. But the bigger picture has worked out OK. I'm happy being here."